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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Vatican City, 27 September 2015 (VIS) –
Pope Francis arrived in Philadelphia for the last stage of his
apostolic trip yesterday at 9.30 a.m. local time (3.30 p.m. in Rome).
His first act in this history city, where the Declaration of
Independence was adopted and the United States Constitution was
signed, was the celebration of Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Sts.
Peter and Paul, a votive mass to the Virgin Mary, Mother of the
Church, attended by the bishops, clergy, and men and women religious
of the state of Pennsyvlania.

“This morning I learned something
about the history of this beautiful Cathedral: the story behind its
high walls and windows”, said the Pope in his homily. “I would
like to think, though, that the history of the Church in this city
and state is really a story not about building walls, but about
breaking them down. It is a story about generation after generation
of committed Catholics going out to the peripheries, and building
communities of worship, education, charity and service to the larger
society. … All of this is a great legacy which you have received,
and which you have been called to enrich and pass on”.

“Most of you know the story of Saint
Katharine Drexel, one of the great saints raised up by this local
Church”, he continued. “When she spoke to Pope Leo XIII of the
needs of the missions, the Pope … asked her pointedly: 'What about
you? What are you going to do?'. Those words changed Katharine’s
life, because they reminded her that, in the end, every Christian man
and woman, by virtue of baptism, has received a mission. Each one of
us has to respond, as best we can, to the Lord’s call to build up
his Body, the Church”.

Those words were addressed to a “a
young woman with high ideals, and they changed her life. They made
her think of the immense work that had to be done, and to realise
that she was being called to do her part. How many young people in
our parishes and schools have the same high ideals, generosity of
spirit, and love for Christ and the Church! … To find ways of
sharing their enthusiasm and gifts with our communities, above all in
works of mercy and concern for others?” asked the Pope.

“One of the great challenges facing
the Church in this generation is to foster in all the faithful a
sense of personal responsibility for the Church’s mission, and to
enable them to fulfil that responsibility as missionary disciples, as
a leaven of the Gospel in our world. This will require creativity in
adapting to changed situations, carrying forward the legacy of the
past not primarily by maintaining our structures and institutions,
which have served us well, but above all by being open to the
possibilities which the Spirit opens up to us and communicating the
joy of the Gospel, daily and in every season of our life”.

Francis remarked that “it is
significant that those words of the elderly Pope were also addressed
to a lay woman. We know that the future of the Church in a rapidly
changing society will call, and even now calls, for a much more
active engagement on the part of the laity. The Church in the United
States has always devoted immense effort to the work of catechesis
and education. Our challenge today is to build on those solid
foundations and to foster a sense of collaboration and shared
responsibility in planning for the future of our parishes and
institutions. This does not mean relinquishing the spiritual
authority with which we have been entrusted; rather, it means
discerning and employing wisely the manifold gifts which the Spirit
pours out upon the Church. In a particular way, it means valuing the
immense contribution which women, lay and religious, have made and
continue to make, to the life of our communities”.

“During these days of the World
Meeting of Families, I would ask you in a particular way to reflect
on our ministry to families, to couples preparing for marriage, and
to our young people”, he concluded. “I know how much is being
done in your local Churches to respond to the needs of families and
to support them in their journey of faith. I ask you to pray
fervently for them, and for the deliberations of the forthcoming
Synod on the Family”.

Vatican City, 27 September 2015 (VIS) –
The Independence National Historical Park, considered the “most
historic square mile in America” for its numerous buildings linked
to the American War of Independence between the United States of
America and Great Britain (1763-1783), was the scene of the Pope's
meeting with the Hispanic community and other immigrants. The central
theme of his discourse was religious freedom and the defence of the
roots of every individual and people. Upon arrival, the
representatives of the “Encuentros Nacionales del ministerio
Hispano” asked the Holy Father to bless a “Biblia Catolica para
la Familia y para el Joven” - a Catholic Bible for the Family and
the Young – and the “Cruz de los Encuentros”, the cross carried
on pilgrimages throughout all the United States in preparation for
each national “Encuentro” of the community. The initiative was
started in 1972, and is intended to enhance the contribution of the
Hispano-Latin community to the life and decisions of the Catholic
Church in the country. The next Encuentro will take place in January
2017.

In his address to the thousands of
people gathered in the Park, the Pope remarked that one of the
highlights of his trip was his visit to Independence Mall, the
birthplace of the United States of America, where the freedoms that
define the country were proclaimed for the first time. “The
Declaration of Independence stated that all men and women are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, and that governments exist to protect and defend
those rights. Those resounding words continue to inspire us today,
even as they have inspired peoples throughout the world to fight for
the freedom to live in accordance with their dignity. But history
also shows that these or any truths must constantly be reaffirmed,
re-appropriated and defended. ... We remember the great struggles
which led to the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting
rights, the growth of the labour movement, and the gradual effort to
eliminate every kind of racism and prejudice directed at successive
waves of new Americans. This shows that, when a country is determined
to remain true to its founding principles, based on respect for human
dignity, it is strengthened and renewed”.

He went on to speak of the importance
of remembering the past, as “a people which remembers does not
repeat past errors; instead, it looks with confidence to the
challenges of the present and the future. Remembrance saves a
people’s soul from whatever or whoever would attempt to dominate it
or use it for their interests”. He then reiterated his wish, “in
this place which is symbolic of the American way” to “reflect …
on the right to religious freedom. It is a fundamental right which
shapes the way we interact socially and personally with our
neighbours whose religious views differ from our own”.

“Religious freedom certainly means
the right to worship God, individually and in community, as our
consciences dictate”, he explained. “But religious liberty, by
its nature, transcends places of worship and the private sphere of
individuals and families. Our various religious traditions serve
society primarily by the message they proclaim. ... They remind us of
the transcendent dimension of human existence and our irreducible
freedom in the face of every claim to absolute power. We need only
look at history, especially the history of the last century, to see
the atrocities perpetrated by systems which claimed to build one or
another 'earthly paradise' by dominating peoples, subjecting them to
apparently indisputable principles and denying them any kind of
rights. Our rich religious traditions seek to offer meaning and
direction. ... At the heart of their spiritual mission is the
proclamation of the truth and dignity of the human person and human
rights. … In a world where various forms of modern tyranny seek to
suppress religious freedom, or try to reduce it to a subculture
without right to a voice in the public square, or to use religion as
a pretext for hatred and brutality, it is imperative that the
followers of the various religions join their voices in calling for
peace, tolerance and respect for the dignity and rights of others”.

We live in a world “subject to
globalisation … which consciously aims at a one-dimensional
uniformity and seeks to eliminate all differences and traditions in a
superficial quest for unity. The religions thus have the right and
the duty to make clear that it is possible to build a society where a
healthy pluralism which respects differences and values them as such
is a precious ally in the commitment to defending human dignity…
and a path to peace in our troubled world”.

He went on to mention the Quakers who
founded Philadelphia, “inspired by a profound evangelical sense of
the dignity of each individual and the ideal of a community united by
brotherly love. This conviction led them to found a colony which
would be a haven of religious freedom and tolerance. That sense of
fraternal concern for the dignity of all, especially the weak and the
vulnerable, became an essential part of the American spirit. During
his visit to the United States in 1987, St. John Paul II paid moving
homage to this, reminding all Americans that: 'The ultimate test of
your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially
the weakest and most defenceless ones'”.

“I take this opportunity to thank all
those, of whatever religion, who have sought to serve the God of
peace by building cities of brotherly love, by caring for our
neighbours in need, by defending the dignity of God’s gift of life
in all its stages, by defending the cause of the poor and the
immigrant. All too often, those most in need of our help are unable
to be heard. You are their voice, and many of you have faithfully
made their cry heard. In this witness, which frequently encounters
powerful resistance, you remind American democracy of the ideals for
which it was founded, and that society is weakened whenever and
wherever injustice prevails. A moment ago I spoke about the tendency
towards globalisation. Globalisation is not an ill. On the contrary,
the tendency towards globalisation is good in that it unites us. The
aspect that can be bad is the way in which it is realised. If
globalisation aims to make us all equal, like a sphere, then it
destroys the specific character of each person and each population.
If instead it aims to unite all, but respecting each person, with his
or her richness and particular characteristics, then this
globalisation is good and makes us all grow; it leads us to peace. I
like using geometry to describe this. If globalisation is a sphere,
in which we are all equal, equidistant from the centre, then it
annuls difference and is not good. If on the other hand it unites us
like a polyhedron, in which we are all united but each person
conserves his or her individual identity, then it is good, allows the
people to grow, endows all men with dignity and grants rights to
all”.

Finally, he addressed America’s large
Hispanic population, along with representatives of recent immigrants
to the United States. “I greet all of you with particular
affection!” he exclaimed. “Many of you have emigrated to this
country at great personal cost, but in the hope of building a new
life. Do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hardships you
face. I ask you not to forget that, like those who came here before
you, you bring many gifts to your new nation. You should never be
ashamed of your traditions. Do not forget the lessons you learned
from your elders, which are something you can bring to enrich the
life of this American land. I repeat, do not be ashamed of what is
part of you, your life blood. You are also called to be responsible
citizens, and to contribute fruitfully to the life of the communities
in which you live. I think in particular of the vibrant faith which
so many of you possess, the deep sense of family life and all those
other values which you have inherited. By contributing your gifts,
you will not only find your place here, you will help to renew
society from within. Do not lose the memory of what happened here
more than two centuries ago. Never forget that Declaration which
proclaimed that all men and women were created equal, that the
Creator has endowed them with inalienable rights, that governments
exist to protect and defend these rights”.

Pope Francis concluded by thanking all
present for their warm welcome, adding, “Let us conserve this
freedom. Take care of freedom. Freedom of conscience, religious
freedom, the freedom of every person, every family, every people,
which gives rise to our rights”.

Vatican City, 27 September 2015 (VIS) –
The Pope's first day in Philadelphia concluded yesterday with his
participation in the Festival of Families in the Benjamin Franklin
Parkway. The Pope arrived by popemobile, greeted by thousands of
faithful and well-wishers along the way. The event was hosted by the
actor Mark Wahlberg, and there were performances by several
musicians, including Aretha Franklin, who sang “Amazing Grace”,
the tenor Andrea Bocelli who performed the Lord's Prayer accompanied
by the Philadelphia Symphonic Orchestra, and the Colombian singer
Juanes. The festival also included readings, some by the actor Jim
Caviezel, and testimonies from families from all over the world.

The Pope set aside the official text
prepared for the occasion, which is given below, and improvised a
brief address in which he said that God gave the “most beautiful
thing He had”, the world, to a family, to a man and a woman so that
they would grow, multiply and make the land fruitful. Francis also
remarked that He wanted His only Son to grow up within a family home,
and emphasised that the family enjoys “divine citizenship”. While
there are problems in every home, they can be overcome with love,
whereas the division of the heart prevents difficulties from being
overcome. Finally, he insisted on the special care due to children
and the elderly, the hope and memory of the family.

“Dear brothers and sisters, dear
families. First of all, I want to thank the families who were willing
to share their life stories with us. Thank you for your witness! It
is always a gift to listen to families share their life experiences;
it touches our hearts. We feel that they speak to us about things
that are very personal and unique, which in some way involve all of
us. In listening to their experiences, we can feel ourselves drawn
in, challenged as married couples and parents, as children, brothers
and sisters, and grandparents.

“As I was listening, I was thinking
how important it is for us to share our home life and to help one
another in this marvellous and challenging task of 'being a family'.
Being with you makes me think of one of the most beautiful mysteries
of our Christian faith. God did not want to come into the world other
than through a family. God did not want to draw near to humanity
other than through a home. God did not want any other name for
Himself than Emmanuel. He is 'God with us'. This was His desire from
the beginning, His purpose, His constant effort: to say to us: 'I am
God with you, I am God for you. He is the God who from the very
beginning of creation said: 'It is not good for man to be alone'. We
can add: it is not good for woman to be alone, it is not good for
children, the elderly or the young to be alone. It is not good. That
is why a man leaves his father and mother, and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one flesh. The two are meant to be a home,
a family.

“From time immemorial, in the depths
of our heart, we have heard those powerful words: it is not good for
you to be alone. The family is the great blessing, the great gift of
this 'God with us', who did not want to abandon us to the solitude of
a life without others, without challenges, without a home. God does
not dream by Himself, He tries to do everything 'with us'. His dream
constantly comes true in the dreams of many couples who work to make
their life that of a family.

“That is why the family is the living
symbol of the loving plan of which the Father once dreamed. To want
to form a family is to resolve to be a part of God’s dream, to
choose to dream with Him, to want to build with Him, to join Him in
this saga of building a world where no one will feel alone, unwanted
or homeless. As Christians, we appreciate the beauty of the family
and of family life as the place where we come to learn the meaning
and value of human relationships. We learn that 'to love someone is
not just a strong feeling – it is a decision, it is a judgement, it
is a promise'. We learn to stake everything on another person, and we
learn that it is worth it.

“Jesus was not a confirmed bachelor,
far from it! He took the Church as His bride, and made her a people
of His own. He laid down His life for those He loved, so that His
bride, the Church, could always know that He is God with us, His
people, His family. We cannot understand Christ without His Church,
just as we cannot understand the Church without her spouse, Christ
Jesus, Who gave His life out of love, and Who makes us see that it is
worth the price.

“Laying down one’s life out of love
is not easy. As with the Master, 'staking everything' can sometimes
involve the cross. Times when everything seems uphill. I think of all
those parents, all those families who lack employment or workers’
rights, and how this is a true cross. How many sacrifices they make
to earn their daily bread! It is understandable that, when these
parents return home, they are so weary that they cannot give their
best to their children.

“I think of all those families which
lack housing or live in overcrowded conditions. Families which lack
the basics to be able to build bonds of closeness, security and
protection from troubles of any kind.

“I think of all those families which
lack access to basic health services. Families which, when faced with
medical problems, especially those of their younger or older members,
are dependent on a system which fails to meet their needs, is
insensitive to their pain, and forces them to make great sacrifices
to receive adequate treatment.

“We cannot call any society healthy
when it does not leave real room for family life. We cannot think
that a society has a future when it fails to pass laws capable of
protecting families and ensuring their basic needs, especially those
of families just starting out. How many problems would be solved if
our societies protected families and provided households, especially
those of recently married couples, with the possibility of dignified
work, housing and healthcare services to accompany them throughout
life.

“God’s dream does not change; it
remains intact and it invites us to work for a society which supports
families. A society where bread, 'fruit of the earth and the work of
human hands' continues to be put on the table of every home, to
nourish the hope of its children.

“Let us help one another to make it
possible to 'stake everything on love'. Let us help one another at
times of difficulty and lighten each other’s burdens. Let us
support one another. Let us be families which are a support for
other families.

“Perfect families do not exist. This
must not discourage us. Quite the opposite. Love is something we
learn; love is something we live; love grows as it is 'forged' by the
concrete situations which each particular family experiences. Love is
born and constantly develops amid lights and shadows. Love can
flourish in men and women who try not to make conflict the last word,
but rather a new opportunity. An opportunity to seek help, an
opportunity to question how we need to improve, an opportunity to
discover the God Who is with us and never abandons us. This is a
great legacy that we can give to our children, a very good lesson: we
make mistakes, yes; we have problems, yes. But we know that that is
not really what counts. We know that mistakes, problems and conflicts
are an opportunity to draw closer to others, to draw closer to God.

“This evening we have come together
to pray, to pray as a family, to make our homes the joyful face of
the Church. To meet that God who did not want to come into our world
in any other way than through a family. To meet 'God with us', the
God Who is always in our midst”.

Today, 27 September, the Pope will meet
the bishops attending the World Meeting of Families in the St.
Charles Borromeo Seminary, visit detainees at the Curran-Fromhold
Correctional Facility and will celebrate Mass to conclude the Eighth
World Meeting of Families in the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. After
greeting the organisers of the event and the volunteers who
participated, he will board his return flight to Rome, departing at 8
p.m. local time (2 a.m., 28 September in Rome).

Vatican City, 27 September 2015 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care
of the diocese of Kaga-Bandoro, Central African Republic, presented
by Bishop Albert Vanbuel, S.D.B., upon reaching the age limit.